1. Don’t give up on the running game
The obvious first key for Bowles and the Jets: get Chris Ivory going!
Ivory started out the year hot rushing for 460 yards in the first four games (5.5 ypc) and then got injured, hit a rough stretch of games and has improved in the last four weeks as his hamstring healed, rushing for 269 yards in the last four games on just 57 carries (4.7 ypc).
With Ivory’s hamstring seemingly healed for the time being the Jets have to do everything they can to get him the ball for two reasons: A.) If they’re going to win the next four games (or at least two or three of them) and secure an AFC Wild Card seat, they’re going to do it on the ground.
Tennessee’s (Wk. 14), Dallas’ (Wk. 15) and Buffalo’s (Wk. 17) defense all rank a middling 16th, 15th and 14th in the league against the run, respectively, while New England (Wk. 16) ranks 11th.
Point being, the Jets have an advantage. B.) If the Jets do get into the playoffs, it’s better they have their beast mode running back head into the divisional round with some momentum. Get number 33 going. Remind teams that this offense is not just Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker; they can, and will run the ball whenever they want to.
